Julia Bradbury unveils 'Real Richness - The Awards' Winners

Television presenter Julia Bradbury has today announced the winners of The Camping and Caravanning Club’s online competition ‘Real Richness – The Awards’ at The Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC, Birmingham.

The Club received hundreds of entries from campers who were keen to share their experiences by demonstrating the real richness that camping provides – highlighting how it makes people richer in mind, body and soul.

Sixty research studies reviewed by leading academics at Liverpool John Moores University and an online survey, commissioned by the Club last year, proved conclusively that those people who camp are happier, have closer family relationships, are healthier, less stressed and are more socially connected.

Awards host Julia was inspired by the entries the Club had received and said: “As an outdoor enthusiast, I’m delighted to be able to host these awards – The Camping and Caravanning Club has done a fantastic job, allowing campers to bring their research to life by encouraging them to share their own real richness moments.

“Camping is a great way to connect with friends, family and nature – I certainly enjoy getting out and enjoying our great British countryside, whatever the season!”

Leading outdoor companies Outwell, Vango, Elddis and Hi-Tec all supported the competition and provided prizes for the top three winners in each of the four award categories – which link to the four pillars of Real Richness.

The award categories, sponsors and overall winners are:

The Outwell Family Togetherness Award:

Ruth Carnegie from Leicester

The Vango Work-Life Balance Award:

Tracy Green, Thame

The Elddis Sense of Community Award:

James Hodgson, Northallerton

The Hi-Tec Freedom Award:

Clive Garrett, Communcations Executive at Outwell, was impressed by its category winning entry and said: “We feel Ruth has captured the essence of family togetherness that builds those unforgettable and rewarding outdoor moments that encourage families to bond through camping. This is something very dear to our heart at Outwell.”

Rachel Moncrieff, Marketing & Communications Manager at Elddis, was in agreement and added: “The Awards celebrate what we’re all about: making the most of our free time, enjoying the great outdoors, getting together with family and friends and a shared sense of community.

“Camping and caravanning appeals to all ages and is an ideal way for families to spend quality time together. It’s a passion that is passed from generation to generation – just like our winner James’ story.”

And it comes as no surprise that camping and caravanning continues to be such a popular pastime with British holidaymakers. The Club’s Real Richness research conclusively proved that camping can make you happier – in fact, 93 per cent of people agreed!

Derek Scott, Marketing Director at Vango, said: “The Real Richness research studies demonstrate that those who camp are happier and healthier and we, as the UK’s leading family camping brand, can only echo the findings.

“We sponsored the Work-Life-Balance category as we thoroughly believe that a camping break can help us restore that much needed work-life balance.

“This category and the awards in general, provide those who have perhaps never camped before a chance to get away from it all and recharge their batteries with their families, with our easy-to-use equipment, and hopefully enjoy it so much that they will want to do it over and over again and champion the great outdoors!”

The freedom and flexibility attributed to camping and caravanning is one of the main enticements for people and is also one of Hi-Tec’s key beliefs.

Helen Durant, Hi-Tec’s UK Marketing Manager, added: “Hi-Tec has been affiliated with the Club for a number of years and I think this is a very worthwhile campaign.

“We are really pleased to be supporting these awards and helping to reward those who encourage others to try camping, by sharing their own experiences and enjoying that freedom.

“We pride ourselves on being a British brand and supplying footwear to members and non-members for all of their experiences in the great outdoors.”

Robert Louden, the Club’s Director General, was delighted with the response from the awards.

He said: “I’d personally like to thank all of our award sponsors for their contributions – without their help, we would never have been able to organise such a successful competition or awards presentation.

“Having received so many inspiring entries, we hope these awards encourage more holidaymakers to experience camping for their chance to create their own real richness moments.”

Editorial Notes:

• The Camping and Caravanning Club is 110-years-old and is the largest and oldest Club in the world for all forms of camping. It has 109 award-winning sites throughout the UK and, through a partnership with the Forestry Commission, now runs and manages a further 20 Camping in the Forest Touring Sites.
• www.realrichness.co.uk was launched on Monday, April 18, 2011.
• www.newtocamping.co.uk incorporates all forms of outdoor holidays.